Ricky Muir (Victoria, Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the Adler A110 lever-action shotgun is currently a Category A firearm,

(ii) lever-action shotguns similar to the Adler A110 currently exist and are in the possession of law-abiding firearm owners in Australia,

(iii) the decision by the Government to temporarily suspend the importation of the Adler A110 lever-action shotgun was taken without consultation with the firearms industry, or the 800 000 plus law-abiding recreational firearm owners, and

(iv) the firearms and hunting industry contributes over $1 billion annually to the Australian economy; and

(b) welcomes the Government’s announcement which will ensure licensed firearms users and industry representatives have meaningful input into the review of the technical aspects of the National Firearms Agreement.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Minister for Justice, I indicate that the government was concerned that a significant number of high-capacity, lever-action shotguns were shortly due to start arriving in Australia. These lever-action shotguns have a magazine capacity of seven rounds that can be discharged rapidly using a lever reloading action. The government has moved to temporarily prohibit the importation of live-action shotguns with a magazine capacity of more than five rounds until the review of the National Firearms Agreement is completed early next year.

Consultation with industry and the licensed shooters will be vital to produce sensible reforms as the government reviews the technical elements of the NFA. As the government announced yesterday, as part of that consultation process we will establish an industry reference group to provide advice to the government and the Firearms and Weapons Policy Working Group—which comprises representatives of all Australian governments—on the technical elements of the NFA. This will be in addition to other stakeholder consultation that the working group and Mr Keenan will conduct.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that general business notice of motion No. 804 be agreed to.